Air and land ambulances were called to Fernlea, off Bury Road, at 8.05am yesterday after the man collapsed and suffered injuries.

The man, who was in his forties and from Bury, died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Jim Elston, who attended the incident, said the death was being treated as ‘unexplained’ but was ‘not thought to be suspicious’. Officers cordoned off the scene yesterday morning while crime scene investigators and members of the road collision team inspected the driveway and an orange JCB vehicle.

A Lancashire police spokesperson said: “At shortly after 8.20am the ambulance service reported a man who had suffered injuries at an address at Fernlea, Bury Road, Rawtenstall.

"Officers attended and following extensive inquiries it would appear that the man, who was delivering machinery to the address, has collapsed and sadly died.

“At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but is not thought to be suspicious.”

The spokesperson added that the man could not yet be named because police are yet to inform his next of kin. The North West Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8.05am and despatched a Helimed and ambulance to the scene.

“When we arrived it became clear that the patient did not need to be taken to hospital.”

A spokeswoman for the North West Air Ambulance confirmed its paramedics had attended the scene and described the man as having ‘very serious suspected injuries’.

A file has been prepared for the East Lancashire coroner, Richard Taylor.

The Health and Safety Executive, which deals with some workplace fatalities, said it had not been informed.